Nothing can be more frustrating than doing your homework on a subject and then having things go wrong anyway. Despite your due diligence and best efforts, you’re left with disappointment, maybe a little anger or a lot of stress, and probably an unexpected problem to fix as a result. Sometimes a huge problem.
That’s the theme for today’s blog post in the wake of a job we took in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a community in Westchester County. More to the point of the theme: a home inspection that wasn’t thorough enough and put the new owner in a risky spot.
Millions of people move each year, many purchasing a new home (or an “already loved” one). It’s obviously an exciting and busy time, and sometimes amidst that havoc or negotiations, getting a home inspection falls through the cracks or is waived altogether.
Whether you’re buying an older home or a new one, there are many reasons for an inspection. The benefits of a proper home inspection include:
- Helping you decide whether you are receiving fair value for the price you’re paying for the home
- Making you aware of any issue with the house that should be corrected before the purchase is completed
- Alerting you to problems major enough to prompt foregoing the purchase
In any case, a home inspection should protect you from any big surprises when you buy a place. Most buyers are untrained for spotting all the subtle condition issues crucial to maintaining a solid house, hence the reason for hiring a professional to do it. That includes an inside home evaluation and outside home evaluation, maybe even a land inspection.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
But sometimes you can do everything right and things still go wrong. That happened to our customers, a couple in Hastings-on-Hudson. An inspection was done on the house before they purchased, and everything appeared to be in order. But in reality, it was far from it.
Somehow the inspection didn’t turn up a couple of significant problems, including multiple roof leaks and, worse, structural signs of a heavy roof that was starting to cave. These roofing issues could have been a disaster for our clients.
A roof showing signs of starting to cave is only steps away from a roof failure, and it’s pretty obvious from the term that’s a dangerous position to be in. Consider for a second how easily you, at home, take for granted the huge structure above your head every day.
To add another level of stress to this situation: The couple had a newborn baby. They thought they had moved into a safe home.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
After they called us, we did an immediate consultation, worked out the details, and got going. There was really no time to waste.
With many parents comprising our team, we could relate to this family and their needs.
This family was in a pinch, and having a newborn as well as pandemic-related limitations meant they would need to be home while this inherently noisy work was being done. It wasn’t feasible for them to be anywhere else.
We chose to dispatch a larger crew than normal, which allowed us to get more work done in a shorter amount of time. That also meant we would have the flexibility to stop down during the times the family needed a break in the commotion and still stay on schedule with more hands on deck. Everyone was doing their best to make a stressful situation a little less stressful.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
We, of course, helped them in choosing the right roofing material for their needs and budget. GAF asphalt shingles in a Slate color were the call. You can’t go wrong with GAF for all types of roofs for shingle replacement, and they’re our standard as the best asphalt shingles for the money. That’s why we’ve chosen to be GAF-certified.
Working deliberately but steadily (and as quietly as we could!), we finished this roofing replacement project in about three days. The family was grateful and relieved to have a new safe roof over their heads. And we wish them a lifetime of happiness and security in their new home.
If you’re reading this, let it serve as a reminder to have regular roof inspection done on your home. And if you feel that inspection wasn’t thorough enough, don’t be hesitant to get another opinion.
As we say all the time, catch the little problems before they become big ones.
City: Hastings-on-Hudson
State: New York
ZIP: 10706
Category: Roofing
Materials used (manufacturer): GAF
Materials used (type): Asphalt
Materials used (color): Slate
Project Cost: $15,000
Time to Complete: Three days